Cigarette dispenser



Aug. 15, 1939.

M. TANZI CIGARETTE DISPENSERA -Filed Aug. 4, 1938 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 c) l. .-.....ln l

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Aug. 15, 1939. M. TANzl 2,169,572

CIGARETTE DISPENSER Filed Aug. 4, 193B 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 ZYU 2770011' Hara Tanzi.

Patented Aug. 15, 1939 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE Application August 4,

3 Claims.

The object of the invention is the provision of a dispenser which may be easily opened, which will remain open and which may be automatically returned to normal closed position by the action of resilient means, responsive to a slight change in pressure on the sides of the box.

One of the features of the invention resides in the arrangement of the inner sliding box within the outer box or case so that when the sides of the outer box are moved outwardly by the pressure of the resilient means as elastic bands, thereon, the edges of the outer box are brought into firm engagement with the edges of the inner box so that the dispenser is retained in its open position. after being moved, thereto.

Another feature, closely related to the one just noted, resides in the arrangement andproportions of the inner and outer boxes and the rel tractile elastic band whereby, if the dispenser 20 is open, a slight pressure on the opposite sides of the outer box will cause the edges of the outer box to move from braking engagement with the edges of the inner box, whereupon the elastic bands will cause the inner box to quickly return to its normal closed position within the outer box or casing.

Another feature, which results from a modification of the arrangement above described, resides in the proportions of the inner box in relation to the outer box or casing, whereby the inner box is not held in open position due to the distortion of the sides of the outer box by the elastic bands but may be retained in open position by a. slight pressure on the lateral faces or edges of the outer box, adjacent to the end, thereof, from which the inner box is adapted to project. Substantially the same operation may be obtained by making the sides of the outer casing of stiffer material so that they will not be bulged outwardly to any material extent by the pressure of elastic bands thereon. In either form of the invention, the inner box may be returned to its closed or normal position by a slight change of pressure on the opposite sides of the outer casing-in one case, by a slight increase in pressure and in the other, by a slight decrease in pressure.

Other features, advantages and modifications will appear from a detailed description of the invention taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which Fig. 1 is a view of the dispenser in open position;

Fig. 2 is a View of device at right angles to that of Fig. 1;

1938, Serial N0. 223,105

(Cl. 20G- 41) Fig. 3 is a transverse section on the line B-B of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a longitudinal section on the line A-A of Fig. 2.;

Fig. 5 is a View of' looking at the top of Fig. 1, part being broken away;

Fig. 6 is a View substantially on the line C-C of Fig. 2 looking in the direction of the arrows, but on a. larger scale;

Fig. 7 isa view similar to Fig. l, but showing a modification in which but one hinged section is provided at the end of the inner box;

Fig. 8 is a View similar to Fig. 1, but shows the lateral edges of the inner box hinged;

Fig. 9 shows an arrangement similar to that of Fig. 7, but with a hinged section at one lateral edge instead of at the side;

Fig. 10 is a side View of the box in normal or closed position, and Fig. 11 is an end view of the box as shown in Fig. 10.

Reference will now be made to the drawings in which like reference characters indicate the same parts in` several views.

Referring first to Figs. 1 to 6, inclusive, I indicates the outer box or casing which is rectangular in cross-section. The casing l has one edge rebent as` shown at 2 to provide a stop or abutment which acts to limit the movement of the inner box 3 within the casing l. The inner box 3, in cross-section, has substantially the same form and proportions as the casing l and is of a size such that it ts snugly within the casing l but is Vfree to slide therein. The inner box 3, at the end, thereof, adapted to project from the casing I, is divided centrally for approximately 1/3 of its length to provide the hinged portions 4 which are joined to the sides 5 of the inner box as indicated at 6. This may be accomplished by merely bending or breaking the material along the line of the hinge so asl to render it flexible, or the hinge may be provided in any other desired manner as by the use of flexible paper or fabric. Each of the hinged portions 4, has at its outer end thereof, a portion 1 extending inwardly at right-angles thereto. When the box is in closed position, the laterally extending portions unite to form the end closure for the inner box, as seen in Fig. 1l. 'I'he lateral edges of the inner box may be cut away, if desired, throughout the extent of the portions 4' as indicated in the drawings.

Each of the hinged portions 4 is joined to the outer casing l through the medium of a strip of elastic material inthe following manner: A rubber band 8 has one end 9 secured to a side of the outer casing, at a distance from the end, thereof, from which the inner box projects, in any desired manner. In the present embodiment of the invention, a staple I0 has been employed for this purpose, as illustrated in Fig. 6. The other end I I of each elastic band 8 is joined to a hinged portion 4, adjacent to the laterally extending part 1; This may be accomplished by extending the end I I of the band through part 4, a piece I2 of wire or other firm material being received by the bight of the band to distribute the pressure exerted thereby. The wire I2 will preferably'be"Y secured in the corner between parts 4 and` 'I by glueing paper thereover, or in any other desired manner. The band 8 is so arranged as to be under slight tension whenmthe inner box 3 is nested in its normal position within the casing I.

The operation of the form of the device just described is as follows: When it is desired to dispense the cigarettes or other objects within the box, the inner box 3 is pushed out of the casing I, as by the finger of the operator applied to the solid closed endrolv the inner box. When the inner box I hasbeen moved outwardly torabout the position shown in Fig. l of the drawings, the

. elastic bands 8 will have acted to move the hinged portions 4 to open position as `clearly shown in Figs. 1 and 4. The pressure of the elastic bands on the sides of the outer box or casing will now cause the edges of the casing to be bulged outwardly as shown in somewhat exaggerated inanner in Fig. 3 of the drawings. The bulging of the sides of the casing outwardly causes the edges of the casing firmly to engage the edges of the inner box so as to exert a braking action, thereon, and retain the inner box in its outer or open position. When it is desired to close the box, a slight pressure may be exerted on the bulgedV po-rtions at Y the opposite sides of the casing whereupon the edges of the casing will move outwardlyto release the inner box which is then returned to normal Y closed position by bands In returning to normal, the end of the inner box engages the abutmentr2, formedY at the end of the casing, and the inner box will nest exactly within the casing as shown in Fig. 10. When the box is in open position, the opposite sides 5 of the inner b ox 3 will be curved inwardly, 'as indicated in Fig. 3, due to the stress exerted by bands 8. This has the e'ect of slightly gripping the cigarette package so that it will Yremain in the dispenser when removing cigarettes from a full package.

A somewhat different manner of operating the dispenser may be brought about if the sides of the casing I are made somewhat stiffer or `the edges are' spaced slightly farther apart. In such a structuresthe pressure of the bands 8 outwardly on the sides'of thewcasing will not act automatically to retain the box in open position. vThe box, however, may be retained in open position by arslight pressure on the opposite edges of the casing, adjacent to the end fromwhich the innerV box projects. This causes the edges of the casing to engage the inner box and hold it open. When the .pressure is released, the Ybox returns to its normalV closed position.

' In Fig. 7 is shown a modification in which the .innerV box has but o-ne hinged end section, designated as 4a. 'Ihe hinged section 4a of Fig. 7 is similar to the section 4 Yof Fig. l and is hingedly supported in the same manner. The laterally extending portion 1a, however, is approximately twice the width of the similary part T in Fig. 1.

In the form shown in Fig. 7, the endof the inner Y box 3 may be cut away down to the point where the part 4a is hingedly joined to the side of the' inner box. This form of the device will operate in substantially the same manner as above described in connection with the form shown in Figs. l to 6, the laterally extending part Ia acting as the sole closure for the end of the box.

The hinged sections may be provided at the edges or narrower faces of the inner box as shown in Fig. 8, wherein the parts have been indicated by the same reference characters as the corresponding parts in Figs. 1 to 6, but with the suilix b added, thereto. This 'box will operate in exactly the saine manner as described in connection with the box shown in Figs. 1 to- 6.

Fig. 9 shows a device similar to that of Fig. 7, but with a single lateral face or edge hingedly supported. The parts in this iigure are indicated by the saine reference characters as the corresponding parts in Figs. 1 to 6, but -with the suiix c added. Y l f Y It will be obvious that applicantrhas provided a dispenser which may be caused to move from its open position to its normal or closed position without changing the position ofthe hand holding the dispenser, only a slight change'in pressure on the opposite faces of the box being necessary to permit it to automatically close; Y In no case is it necessary to manually move the hinged porr ible means joining the hinged section to the box."

is meant to cover any means Ydeining a line of exure, such as formed byY creasing or Vgrooving 'or otherwise thinning the material of the box at this line( i Having described my invention, what'I claim is new and desire to Letters Patent is:

1. YIn a dispenser case, an outer tubular casing, generally rectangular in cross-section, an inner boxof substantially the same contour 4in crosssection as said outer casing, slidable into and from said casing, said inner box closely tting'withiri secure by United States f saidouter casing, a hinged section at one end said inner box, liexibleineans joining said hinged section to the corresponding side of the inner box, a late'rallyprojecting extension at the outer edge of said hinged section so arranged that when the box is in normal position, it forms a closure for the end of the box, and an elastic band having one end joined to said hinged end section remote from 'its hinged connection to the side of said inner box, the other end of said band being joined to a side of the outer casing remote fro-in the end thereof from which the inner box is adapted to pr-oject, the said elastic band being positioned between the said casing and said box the casing being so proportioned to the box that two opposite sides of the casing Yclosely iitV the box while the other two opposing sides loosely engage the box so that a side of the outer casing may be outwardly distorted by the elastic band as the inner box is thrust out; such distortion AbeingY modifiable by light iinger pressure inward onllthe outer casing to vary theV frictional engagement oi the outer casing 'on the inner box to control the tendency of the elastic band to return and close the box.

2. In a dispenser case, an outer tubular casing, generally rectangular in cross-section, an inner box of substantially the same contour in crossrsection as said outer casing, slidable into and from said casing, said inner box closely fitting within said outer casing, a hinged section at one end of said inner box, flexible means joining said hinged section to the corresponding side of the inner box, a laterally projecting e-xtension at the outer edge of said hinged section so arranged that when the box is in normal position, it forms a closure for the end of the box, and an elastic band having one end joined to said hinged end section remote from its hinged connection to the side of said inner box, the other end of said band being joined to a side of the outer casing remote from the end thereof from which the inner box is adapted to project, the said elastic band being positioned between the said casing and said box, characterized in this that the parts are so proportioned that two opposite sides of the casing closely t the box while the other two sides of the casing loosely engage the box, so a side of the casing may be distorted outward by the elastic band as the inner box is thrust out such distortion being reversible by a light nger pressure inward against the outer casing causing it to frictionally engage the inner box, to hold the box projected, but retractible by the elastic band upon relief of the pressure.

3. In a dispenser case, an outer tubular casing,

generally rectangular in cross-section, an inner box of substantially the same contour in crosslsection as said outer casing, slidable into and from said casing, said inner box closely fitting within said outer casing, a hinged section at one end of said inner box, flexible means joining said hinged section to the corresponding side of the inner box, a laterally projecting extension at the o-uter edge of said hinged section so arranged that when the box is in normal position, it forms a closure for the end of the box, and an elastic band having one end joined to said hinged end section remote from its hinged connection to the side of said inner box, the other end of said band being joined to a side of the outer casing remote from the end thereof from which the inner box is adapted to project, the said elastic band being positioned between the said casing and said box, characterized in this that two opposite sides of the casing closely t the box, the other two sides of the casing loosely engage the box, so that the outward pressure of the elastic band on the side of the outer box engaged thereby, causes said side to be distorted outwardly, whereby the lateral edges of said outer box, adjacent to said distorted side, are drawn toward each other into rm engagement with the corresponding sides of the inner box so as to retain the box in open position until inward pressure applied to the distorted side releases the inner box and permits the elastic band to retract and close it.

MARIO TANZI. 

